Isnin, 18 November 2013

Pelabuhan Klang: Dulu, Kini dan Selamanya...(In English)

Brief notes on Port Swettenham

Then

Starting out as a small coastal port, Port Klang (then Port Swettenham) was officially opened to traffic on 15th September 1901. From its inception, it had always been earmarked as the Federated Malay States’ main port, and has remained true to its mandate ever since.

On the railway beyond Klang is Port Swettenham, a world-port, with a steam tonnage of more than a million a year and an annual trade of some twelve-and-a-half millions sterling. It lies at the landward end of an estuary in which meet the Klang and Langat rivers,and dates from the year 1901 only. The construction of it having been determined it was necessary first of all to provide some dry land, for the whole site was a tidal flat covered with mangrove growing in mud and salt water. The railway which formerly ended at Klang was therefore prolonged to the mouth of the Klang river and thousands of truck-loads of earth dumped along the sea front. At the same time a passenger jetty and three wharves to carry railway trucks were built. The jetty is on screw piles , but the wharves rest on large cylinders driven down into the mud, the deepest going 132 feet. The port, both during construction and afterwards, proved shockingly unhealthy. Malarial fever was rife and contrary to expectation grew worse steadily. Luckily it was just at this time that Governments all over the world were beginning to put into practice the conclusions of science in relation to malaria, and it was determined by the Selangor Government to put a bund or dyke all round the site, which should keep out the sea water, and to provide gates in it to drain off the rain water. As soon as the site became dry, malaria absolutely ceased, the anopheles mosquitoes, which had bred in myriads in the swamp, even in the brackish

pools of mingled sea and rain water, being dried out.This was a most notable achievement, and has now

become a classical instance of what can be done. It was felt all over the medical world, for the work had

been deliberately undertaken with a definite object, and its progress, with its concurrent effects, was kept

under observation until the expected result was reached. Yellow fever was driven out of Flavana much about the same time, and the Panama Canal zone has been freed from malaria by draining and filling operations similar to those undertaken at Port Swettenham.

Today, Port Klang is the top 13th container port in the world, with links to more than 600 ports in 180 countries over 6 continents.A well-developed and efficient transportation infrastructure is in place to handle the volume of cargo traffic at Port Klang.

By Road

The North-South Expressway runs from Bukit Kayu Hitam at the Malaysia-Thai border to the Johor Causeway in the south, covering a distance of 900 kilometres. This Expressway along the western side of the Peninula together with the Klang Valley Expressway and the Federal Highway Route 2, play an important role in the distribution of both import and export cargo between Port Klang and its hinterland.

By Rail

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB), the corporatised railway company, operates a daily block train service from Port Klang to Penang and Bangkok. There is also a 6-day-a-week rail service between the Ipoh Cargo Terminal (an inland port in the northern state of Perak) and Port Klang.

By Air

The new Kuala Lumpur International Airport commenced operations in late 1998. It is located about 75 km away in Sepang, which is part of an area designated for the Multimedia Supercorridor, Malaysia’s answer to Silicon Valley.

Port Facilities1. Berth

Berth

Length(meters)

Type

Total

Container

24

6,079

Breakbulk

11

1,486

Dry Bulk

7

1,561

Liquid

9

2,086

Passenger

1

30

Bunker

1

196

TOTAL

53

11,438

2. Storage

Category

s.q. meters

CONVENTIONAL

Transit Shed

2,973

Covered Storage

49,560

Warehouses

60,547

Open Yard

106,169

TOTAL

219,249

CONTAINER

CFS Facilities

244,077

Container Yard (hectare)

206.711

3. Equipment

CATEGORY

TOTAL

Quay Crane

60

Rubber Tyred Gantry

163

Mobile Crane

8

Cranes (on rails)

5

T-Rex Crane

1

Towing Tractor

11

Straddle Carrier

52

High Stacker

33

Prime Mover

424

Trailer

413

Cargo Trailer

60

Container Trailer

7

Forklift

43

Pilot Boat

10

Tug Bot

13

The Future

Port Klang Authority has identified additional facilities as part of its supply-driven policies. When Westport is completed, the facilities at Port Klang will be sufficient to handle the projected cargo throughput 130.5 million tonnes by the year 2010. Container projection by then will be 8.4 million TEUs. As part of the master plan, the development of Port Klang will also see further expansion of port facilities south of Port Klang between Tanjung Rhu and Batu Laut (30 km from Port Klang). The major thrust of these developments will be more industrial based dealing with very large consignments. Port Klang's development is in line with the economic growth in the central region of the country and also its identity as a regional transshipment base.

Milestones

Date

Event

15 Sept 1901

Port Swettenham officially
opened to traffic.

1903

Amalgamation of Perak and
Selangor State Railways to form FMS Railways, owner manager of Port
Swettenham